The original diagnostic criteria for the diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease were developed in 1984. The Alzheimer's Association and the National Institute on Aging (NIA) recently updated and added to those guidelines.

Role of advanced imaging and biomarkers

As disease-modifying therapies become available, initiating therapy early in the disease, before clinical signs emerge, will be critical, so research on new strategies for earlier diagnosis is among the most active areas in Alzheimer's science. Although there are no validated biomarkers for Alzheimer's disease, researchers are investigating genetic risk profiling, cerebrospinal fluid biomarkers, such as beta-amyloid and tau, and advanced brain imaging techniques that will allow clinicians to detect and monitor genetic, metabolic, vascular and cellular changes related to Alzheimer's disease.

Differential diagnosis

Alzheimer's disease accounts for up to 80 percent of all dementia cases. Diagnosis may be complicated by other forms of dementia that have symptoms and pathologies similar to Alzheimer's disease. Knowing the key features and pathology of each type of dementia can help in the accurate diagnosis of patients, so they will receive the treatment and support services appropriate for their condition and maintain the highest possible quality of life.

The following table identifies some of the clinical differences between the major dementias

Instructional videos

The following videos show the disclosure of an Alzheimer's disease diagnosis and a peer-to-peer discussion of important aspects of assessing cognition and disclosing an Alzheimer's disease diagnosis during a primary care visit. The videos, part of a three-part instructional series developed for primary care providers, use an actual primary care physician and patient with Alzheimer's disease.